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#837
Which dry suits
pirate72 - 9/27/2007 9:51 PM
Category: Equipment
Replies: 8

After having completed the PADI Dry Suit specialty, I`m planning on buying one to dive in the NJ/NY area. What are your opinions about particular suits, what are your recommendations, pros and cons? I.e. I think the DUI Zip seals probably make a lot of sense, or is it overrated? What about BARE suits that cost about half of a DUI or Dive Rite suit? Are they any good or am I going to wish I had spent the extra money and got a DUI? Thanks for your comments. Alex
#3979
DalelynnSims - 9/28/2007 6:53 AM
Like other dive equipment, a drysuit is as unique as the individual that is using it. Look at the type of diving that you plan to do as one key as to the type of suit that is best suited for you. I have been down in all makes you speak of, but not all models they offer. The crushed neoprene that DUI offers is tops & resist abrasions great. The neoprene suits are heaver than a trilaminate and in my opinion the trilaminate I believe a bit more versatile as you can use different weight undergarments. They dry faster & are easier to pack. Zip seals are great for what they do but I have found that any glove rings tend to get in the way sometimes. What ever suit you purchase Fit or cut should be top priority.

My current suit is a DiveRite front zip. One of the few that I have tryed off the rack sizes that fit me as it should. Great suit with many options included in their base price. Only thing I need to add is reflective tape.

Hope this helps.

Best Fishes!!! [
#3442
Dorkfish - 9/28/2007 2:12 PM
If you`re not in a rush to get the dry suit, I would suggest finding a way to test-dive a couple of different brands. After all, it is an investment.

Unfortunately DUI did not have an event near NJ this year on their calendar. http://www.dui-online.com/2007_rally.asp
If you do not have a suit by the time the next Dry Suit Rally calendar comes out, I would suggest trying to make it to one of the DUI events nearest you. It is very much worth the drive if you`re a potential customer OR just want to learn more about dry suits and dive someone else`s suits for cheap.
#11850
TColJeep - 9/28/2007 8:49 PM
DUI held demo days at Dutch Springs in May. A lot of the other manufacturers will be available March 27-29, 2008 at the Meadowlands Expo Center for the annual Beneath The Sea show. If you can wait until then, you can check out all the different suits, try them on and ask all the questions you want of the manufacturers reps. http://www.beneaththesea.org/BTS.html
#3979
DalelynnSims - 9/29/2007 7:02 PM
DIU Demo Days is in Lake Rawlings near the end of October, 19-21. See http://www.lrnews.homestead.com/ and www.lakerawlings.com for more information.

Best Fishes!!! [
#3060
Subscribed
DryDiver - 1/15/2009 8:59 AM
Before I bought my dry suit I did about 2 months of research on them. I ended up going with a DUI CNse custom fit. I could not fit into any off the shelf sizing. There are a lot of factors to consider when you are buying a dry suit. One of the factors that I didn’t see mentioned was the added weight that you will have to carry if you decide to go with a neoprene based dry suit. I dive both wet and dry.

I dive a 7mm Pinnacle merino wool elastoprene suit hood boots and gloves and am able to get away with diving with 20lbs of weight. When I dive in my dry suit I end up having to carry 42lbs. Ya I know the first thing that everyone is going to say is that I have too much air in the suit, not the case though. I can sink myself with 36-38lbs with no air in the suit. I ending up at the 42lbs allows me to add the air that I need to stay warm. For undergarments I wear a one piece fleece that fits snugly.

I had the opportunity to go to a DUI Dog Day Rally and tried a TLS450. I had to go with a suit that was a little bigger than the one that I dive for sizing reasons but I was able to sink with 26lbs and able to dive with 30lbs.

Don’t get me wrong I love my dry suit but make sure that you look at the type of diving that you are going to be doing. The neoprene is more abrasion resistant that the tri lam, but you pay for it in the amount of weight that you have to carry. If you are not going to be going in and out of wrecks or caves then you may not need the extra abrastion resistance of a neoprene suit.

I find my self diving more in my wet suit than dry because of all the extra weight that I have to carry. In all the questions that I asked and of all the people none of them brought this factor into the equasion for me.

Good luck on your search. Hope this helped.
#3060
Subscribed
DryDiver - 1/15/2009 9:02 AM
Before I bought my dry suit I did about 2 months of research on them. I ended up going with a DUI CNse custom fit. I could not fit into any off the shelf sizing. There are a lot of factors to consider when you are buying a dry suit. One of the factors that I didn’t see mentioned was the added weight that you will have to carry if you decide to go with a neoprene based dry suit. I dive both wet and dry.

I dive a 7mm Pinnacle merino wool elastoprene suit hood boots and gloves and am able to get away with diving with 20lbs of weight. When I dive in my dry suit I end up having to carry 42lbs. Ya I know the first thing that everyone is going to say is that I have too much air in the suit, or the suit is too big. Not the case though. I got my measurements done by Faith from DUI at the beneath the sea in NJ. I can sink myself with 36-38lbs with no air in the suit. I ending up at the 42lbs allows me to add the air that I need to stay warm. For undergarments I wear a one piece fleece that fits snugly.

I had the opportunity to go to a DUI Dog Day Rally and tried a TLS450. I had to go with a suit that was a little bigger than the one that I dive for sizing reasons but I was able to sink with 26lbs and able to dive with 30lbs.

Don’t get me wrong I love my dry suit but make sure that you look at the type of diving that you are going to be doing. The neoprene is more abrasion resistant that the tri lam, but you pay for it in the amount of weight that you have to carry. If you are not going to be going in and out of wrecks or caves then you may not need the extra abrastion resistance of a neoprene suit.

I find my self diving more in my wet suit than dry because of all the extra weight that I have to carry. In all the questions that I asked and of all the people none of them brought this factor into the equasion for me.

Good luck on your search. Hope this helped.